Extension News February 2025

Special Recognition

Seydel Cropps was recognized during the NC Cooperative Extension Conference for her excellence in service and programming.

The “Over the Mark” award.

Individuals receiving the "Over the Mark" award are EFNEP Educators who meet 5% or more above their target outreach and meet or exceed program impact goals during the performance evaluation year. These individuals are the masters of outreach and partnership. They adjust their work schedules to meet participants where they are and when they can meet. They form solid partnerships with community organizations that result in EFNEP goals being met. Seydel reached 38% above her target goal.

The “Circle of Excellence Diamond” award.

Individuals entering the Circle of Excellence are EFNEP Educators who consistently perform above their target workloads and consistently meet their impact goals. They are masters of outreach and meeting the needs of their participants. They are often leaders within their region and exemplify excellence. Circle of Excellence members are individuals who constantly seek self-improvement and look for ways to become more effective and efficient in program delivery and results. They are good program managers, and their program is well-known in the county they serve. There are multiple levels for the Circle of Excellence award.

Seydel was awarded the Level 3 – Circle of Excellence Diamond Award. Educators must have a minimum of fifteen years of employment and they mut have been a previous Circle of Excellence Gold winner and Circle of Excellence winner.

The “Minnie Miller Brown” award.

This is the highest honor given to an EFNEP educator working in EFNEP. The award is given in memory of Minnie Miller Brown (1922-1995), the state’s first EFNEP Coordinator. She served in that role from 1969, when EFNEP was created, until her retirement in 1981. Professor Brown had a distinguished career as a teacher and program director. She was recognized nationally as a leader among EFNEP state coordinators. She inspired the EFNEP staff with a vision for helping improve conditions for a neglected audience—rural poor families and youth in North Carolina. Mrs. Brown is remembered with affection for her passion for and commitment to EFNEP. On her retirement, a special endowment was established within the North Carolina Agricultural Foundation of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences to provide an annual award for the outstanding EFNEP Educator of the year in adult or youth outreach. The first Minnie Miller Brown Award was presented in 1982.

• EFNEP Educators are eligible to receive the Minnie Miller Brown award once every 10 years. This is the second time that Seydel has received this award in her 24 years of service. This truly recognizes her outstanding accomplishments as an EFNEP educator. She is known as being the “best in the state”.
• Seydel is most deserving of all these awards as she consistently performs above her target workload and meets her impact goals. She is a master of outreach and meeting the needs of her community. She is a leader who exemplifies excellence in all that she does.

Special Recognition for Team Awards

Carmen Long was recognized with two team awards by the National Extension Association of Family & Consumer Sciences at their National Annual Meeting and Professional Improvement Conference.

• Family & Consumer Sciences Agent was selected as a national award winner for the National Extension Association of Family & Consumer Sciences along with team members: Seydel Cropps, Surry on the Go, and Alleghany County Public Library. Carmen was awarded the 2nd Place Team Award - Communications - Television/Video Award for the North Central District in North Carolina.
• 3rd Place Team Award for Marketing Package Award. Carmen’s team was comprised of other family and consumer science agents from the North Central District in Carolina. (Ivelisse Colon, Jennifer Brown, Tara Gregory, Amanda Butalla, Courtney Tevepaugh, Sonya Patterson, Elisa Phillips, and Virginia Lopez)

Love Yourself, Love Your Heart

Devoting a little time every day to care for yourself can go a long way toward protecting the health of your heart. Simple self-care, such as taking a moment to de-stress, giving yourself time to move more, preparing healthier meals, and not cheating on sleep, can all benefit your heart.

And that’s a good thing, because heart disease is largely preventable, and focusing on improving your heart health has never been more important. Heart disease is a leading cause of death for women and men in the United States, and many Americans remain at risk of getting it, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).

“Studies show self-care routines, such as taking a daily walk and keeping doctor’s appointments, help us keep our blood pressure, sugar, and cholesterol levels in the healthy range and reduce our risk of heart disease and stroke,” said Gina Wei, M.D., NHLBI’s acting director of cardiovascular sciences.

It may be easier than you think to “put your heart” into your daily routine. Each Sunday, look at your week’s schedule and carve out 30 minutes daily for heart-healthy practices. Take a yoga class, prepare a heart-healthy recipe, schedule your bedtime to get at least seven hours of sleep, or make a medication checklist. Then seek out support from others, even if it’s online or via a phone call, to help you stick to your goals.

Here are a few self-care tips to try every day to make your heart a priority:

Self-Care Sunday

Find a moment of serenity every Sunday. Spend some quality time on yourself.

Mindful Monday

Be mindful about your health and regularly monitor your blood pressure or blood sugar if needed. Keep an eye on your weight to make sure it stays within or moves toward a healthy range. Being aware of your health status is a key to making positive change.

Tasty Tuesday

Choose how you want to approach eating healthier. Start small by pepping up your meals with a fresh herb or spice as a salt substitute. Get adventurous and prepare a simple, new, heart-healthy recipe. Or go big by trying a different way of eating, such as the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan, which is scientifically proven to lower blood pressure. DASH is flexible and balanced, and it includes plenty of fruits and vegetables, fish, poultry, lean meats, beans, nuts, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products.

Wellness Wednesday

Don’t waffle on your wellness. Move more, eat a fruit or vegetable you’ve never tried, make a plan to quit smoking or vaping, or learn the signs of a heart attack or stroke. You could be having a heart attack if you have chest and upper body pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, cold sweats, nausea, or lightheadedness. You might be having a stroke if you have numbness in the face, arm, or leg; confusion; trouble talking or seeing; dizziness; or a severe headache.

Treat Yourself Thursday

Treats can be healthy. Try making a dessert with fresh fruit and yogurt. Then stretch your imagination beyond food. Host a family dance party, take a few minutes to sit still and meditate, go for a long walk, or watch a funny show. Laughter is healthy. Whatever you do, find a way to spend some quality time on yourself.

Follow Friday

Follow inspiring people and pages on social media, or text a friend to help you stick to your self-care goals. Remember to take care of your mental health, too. Two of the main hurdles to self-care are depression and a lack of confidence, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. If your mental health gets between you and your fabulous self, take action to show your heart some love. Reach out to family and friends for support or talk to a qualified mental health provider.

Selfie Saturday

Inspire others to take care of their own hearts. Talk about your self-care routine with loved ones or share a selfie on your social media platforms. Having social support and personal networks can make it easier to get regular physical activity, eat nutritious foods, reach a healthy weight, and quit smoking.

Visit the link below to learn more about heart health.

Do a Little, Gain Much

Would you like to improve your health and reduce your stress this year? Then try these simple suggestions:

1. If you have a desk job, try standing periodically throughout the day for heart health. Stand during phone calls and meetings, stretch regularly, and walk over to a co-worker’s desk instead of emailing or calling them.
2. Do at least one thing today that is healthier than yesterday. For example, eat a healthy breakfast or pack a healthy snack. (Just imagine how many things you can improve in 365 days).
3. Say “thank you” more often. Having an attitude of gratitude can improve our physical and emotional health. Counting our blessings can help us be more optimistic and satisfied with our lives.
4. Next time you feel stressed or angry, take a few minutes to stop and shift your attention to your breathing. This can protect your heart and your relationships.

Spending Time at Home

Spending more time at home? Looking for easy meals to involve your children in preparing meals? Check out this delicious recipe!

Easy Cheesy Tortilla Bake

Makes 12 servings

Ingredients

• 16 whole-wheat tortillas
• 2 cans low-sodium tomato soup (10 oz.)
• 2 cups chunky salsa
• 1 cup fat-free milk
• 4 cups cubed, cooked chicken or turkey
• 2 cups low-fat shredded cheddar cheese
• Vegetable cooking spray

Directions

1. Wash hands and surfaces.
2. Preheat oven to 400°F.
3. Lightly coat baking dishes with cooking spray.
4. Cut or tear tortillas into 1-inch pieces.
5. Divide cheese in half and save 1 cup for topping.
6. In a large mixing bowl, combine tortillas, soup, salsa, milk, chicken or turkey, and 1 cup of cheese.
7. Divide the mixture into two baking dishes.
8. Bake for 30 minutes or until hot.
9. Remove from oven and sprinkle 1 cup of remaining cheese over each baking dish.
10. Refrigerate leftovers immediately.

Original Recipe from: K-State

Winter Activities

With the arrival of winter and the cold temperatures we are experiencing, you may be looking for activities to entertain your children or grandchildren. Frozen suncatchers are an easy craft that you can make outdoors in the winter. There are so many great things about this craft. Not only does this project get your little ones outside and exploring in the cooler weather, but it also requires little to no prep work and no fancy or expensive supplies. These ice suncatchers can be made anywhere at any time, using any variety of supplies and ingredients from your home and outdoor area. All you need is a little imagination and some patience!

There are three things you will need to make frozen suncatchers: water, a container, and natural ingredients for decoration. The water and containers can be found in any kitchen. It’s the natural elements that your children collect and include in their suncatchers that will make them each unique and individual. Start this project out by allowing your children to explore your area (yard, neighborhood, local park/woods) and collect small natural items to include in the frozen suncatchers.

Give each kid a bag or collection box to hold their supplies. Explain that they’ll need a variety of shapes, colors, and sizes of objects to include. Then let them choose what to collect. This not only gets them outside in the fresh air but gets them thinking about the variety of plants, leaves, flowers and natural elements in their area.

You can use anything in your frozen suncatchers, as long as they are small enough to fit in the ice! It is recommended to only use natural supplies that will naturally decompose over time and not cause any issues for animals if they consume them. Now is probably not the time to use marbles or coins or anything plastic. Some items you may help your children look for are pine needles, leaves, flowers, twigs, acorns, pebbles, small pinecones, birdseed, orange or lemon slices, berries, pieces of evergreen, moss, etc.

Once you have your materials collected, you’ll want to choose your containers. You can use plastic lids, paper/plastic plates, pie tins, cake pans, bowls, or silicone molds. There is no need to go out and buy something new! Get creative with what you already have at home! Be advised that the bigger and deeper your container, the longer it will take to freeze.

Fill your container with enough water that it will cover their natural materials. Try to keep the water shallow so that the suncatchers freeze faster, aren’t too heavy to hang, and are thin enough to allow sunlight to pass through them. Once you have water in your container, let your kids add the natural elements they collected to the water in any design of your choosing. Let them create shapes with the items or lay them out in any design of their choosing. It is best to create them on the surface you will leave them on to freeze to prevent water spills or their designs from shifting.

For extra fun, you can add a few drops of different colors of food coloring to make a rainbow of beautiful colors in your frozen suncatchers! If you want to hang your creation from tree branches or on a windowsill, make sure you add a small piece of twine, rope, or ribbon half out of the ice in a loop so that it will freeze in place, giving you a built-in hanger for your suncatcher.

Now comes the hard part for kids…being patient while they freeze! If the temperature is cold enough for the water to freeze outside, then leave your suncatcher outside in a safe place (where it won’t be disturbed) for a few hours or overnight to freeze. If it’s not cold enough, you can place them flat in your freezer until frozen. Just be extra careful when moving them not to shake or disturb the designs.

While you’re waiting for your suncatcher to freeze, take the opportunity to educate your children! Talk to them about the temperature at which water freezes and what happens to the water as it solidifies. Discuss the temperature outside and take a guess as to how long it will take for the water to freeze. Check on the status of your suncatchers and note the changes taking place. Note the temperature outside and compare it to the temperature in your fridge or freezer.

When your suncatcher is completely frozen, carefully remove it from the container. If you added a hanger to your suncatcher, you could find a spot to hang it that will allow your children to view it from a window. Let them observe how the sunlight shines through the ice, if any animals come trying to find a snack in their creation and see how long their suncatcher will last before it melts away!

4-H Online 2.0

Have you registered your child or grandchild in 4-H Online for 2025? If not, now is the time! All youth must be registered for this calendar year before they can attend club meetings, participate in enrichment programs, register for Summer Fun, or attend 4-H camp. Don’t miss out on the fun! The enrollment process should take less than 15 minutes to complete. If you have questions, feel free to contact Amanda Gann at (336) 401-8025 or agann@ncsu.edu.

Private Pesticide V Safety Training

A private V pesticide safety training will be held Wednesday, February 12th, from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Topics featured in this training involve Fungicides and Their Proper Use, Preventing Herbicide Runoff for Cleaner Water and Greater Profits, and also a general information session from a North Carolina Department of Agriculture Pesticide Inspector. To register, click the link below.

Paraquat Recertification Training

On February 20th from 9 am to 11 am at the Surry County Service Center, there will be a Paraquat recertification training held for folks with an active private pesticide license. Due to the recent label changes around Paraquat, or with any herbicide product containing the active ingredient of Paraquat Dichloride, the United States Environmental Protection Agency requires any person who wishes to use these products go through additional recertification training every three years.

In-person Paraquat recertification trainings can be offered locally through North Carolina Cooperative Extension. Attendees must successfully complete the in-person Paraquat training material, along with passing the associated exam with a 100%. Plus, North Carolina Department of Agriculture pesticide licensing credits of N, O, D, and X will also be available to attendees. If interested in attending, please call 336-401-8025 or register by clicking the link below.

ECA Scholarship deadline - February 14

Extension and Community Association Scholarships

Surry County Extension and Community Association (ECA) members are proud to announce they are accepting applications for the 2025 North Central District Extension and Community Association Scholarships. The $800.00 scholarships are given to a youth and an adult who are continuing their education beyond the high school level in any field of study, but with priority given to a degree in family and consumer sciences.

A youth applicant is defined as a high school senior or a student currently enrolled in college having completed high school without a break in his /her formal education. An adult is an individual who has completed high school and has had a break in his/her formal education and now wishes to further his/her education.

All applicants must be North Carolina residents and planning to attend a North Carolina - accredited college, community college, or technical institute in the fall of 2025. Scholarships are awarded based on the following criteria:

• Financial Need 25%
• Scholarship Potential 25%
• Activities and Honors 25%
• ECA Connection 25%

The deadline for applications is February 14, 2025. To obtain an application or for more information on applying or joining an ECA club, call the Surry County Center of N.C. Cooperative Extension at 336-401-8025.

Surry County Extension and Community Association (ECA) has three clubs and 50+ members located throughout the county. The organization’s mission is to strengthen families through:

• Leadership Development
• Volunteer Work
• Educational Support
• Researched-based education from North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University

Program Dates and Times

Foothills Roundtable Event

The eleventh annual Foothills Specialty Crop Growers’ Roundtable is scheduled for Thursday, February 20, 2025, from 12:00 to 5:00 pm. The event will be held in person at the Extension Center in Yadkin County, located at 2051 Agricultural Way, Suite 201, Yadkinville. This is a great event to attend if you are a small farm looking for information on growing various commodities. All farmers, new and old, are invited to attend. Topics vary from year to year. Some sessions will have pesticide credits available. A few of the topics this year will include:

• How to Expand the Growing Season
• Farm Certification Options for Farmers
• Introduction to Beekeeping
• Controlling Invasive Species
• Cut Flower Production
• Recordkeeping for Farms

Registration and agenda will be available soon at the link below or you may call our Extension Center at 336.401.8025. Please register by February 17.

Thank you, AgSouth Farm Credit for sponsoring this event!

Fun with Fairy Gardens Workshops Scheduled

Join NC State Extension Master Gardener℠ volunteers during our February “Fun with Fairy Gardens” workshop. Participants will create a small, enchanted container garden with succulents, figurines, and natural décor. Please bring a shallow container no more than 6 inches deep and 10-12 inches wide.

All are welcome. Registration is required. Please call the location of choice to register. Dates and locations are:

• Mt. Airy Senior Center - February 6th @ 2:00
• Mt. Airy Senior Center - February 20th @ 2:00
• Pilot Mountain Senior - February 27th @ 1:00

Create an Indoor Garden with Kokedamas Workshop Rescheduled

Due to snow, the “Create an Indoor Garden with Kokedamas” workshop was rescheduled to Saturday, February 1, at 10:00 am at the Elkin Public Library. Hope to see you there!

Grow Great Greens Workshop

Do you want to learn how to grow great salad greens all winter AND save money? Join NC State Extension Master Gardener℠ volunteers to learn options for cold frames used in wintertime. Participants will plant lettuce seeds, one of the more expensive gourmet items at the market!! Program materials will be provided. Everyone is welcome. Come join the fun and learn! Program times are listed below, and registration can be completed at:

• Lowgap Public Library February 25 @ 1:00 pm

• Elkin Public Library March 1 @ 10:30 am

• Charles Stone Public Library, Pilot Mountain March 7 @ 10:30 am

Cut Flower Farming Workshop

Wilkes County Cooperative Extension will hold a cut flower farming workshop on February 12 from 9 am – 12 pm at their local office located at 416 Executive Drive, Wilkesboro, NC 28697. The workshop is designed to provide helpful information to cut flower farmers or individuals interested in growing cut flowers for profit. The event is free. Registration is required via Wilkes County Eventbrite.

Tentative Agenda:

• 9:00 a.m. Cut Flower Weed Management- Dr. Joe Neal, Professor of Weed Science and Extension Specialist, NC State Extension
• 10:00 a.m. Cut Flower Insect Pests- Stacey Jones, Area Specialized Agent, Commercial Nursery and Greenhouse
• 11:00 a.m. Cut Flower Best Management Practices- Craig Mauney, Area Specialized Agent, Commercial Fruits and Vegetables